Business coach offers small builders a free IT skills course

​​​​​​​The CITB-funded IT training course called “Solving Tech for Small Builders” is run by Maria Coulter, a business coach from Leicester

Tackling new technology is the bane of many small businesses, but one woman has made it her mission to change the way they work with it.

After a successful trial involving 50 tradespeople, Maria Coulter—a business coach from Leicester—is inviting 1,000 SME construction and trade businesses to participate in a free, CITB-funded IT training course called “Solving Tech for Small Builders.”

“Understanding IT and how it can help your small business can be the difference between success and failure,” said Maria, who has spent over a decade helping small firms overcome the hurdles they face.

“This is about helping builders stand out through professionalism, pricing confidence and better systems.

“The right technology, used in the right way, can save money, free up time and give you the confidence to grow. It is not about pushing one piece of software for everyone. It is about finding what works best for each business.”

The IT programme covers:
• How to find out where your business is losing time, money and reputation
• Advise on choosing the right tech for your business, from AI assistants to Project Management systems.
• Tips for using tech to price your projects, manage your client relationships and your workforce
• Fortnightly live Zoom sessions and recorded lessons you can watch back whenever you need.

“Think of it like an IT toolkit,” said Maria. “You’d reach for a hammer or screwdriver, so I want small builders to see IT as an extension of those tools.”

Maria, a straight-talking Northerner originally from the North East, has been involved in construction since the age of 16 and says her passion for coaching others in the industry began as a project manager during a recession.

Confidence levels have doubled in finding and embedding the right tech into their business. The funding also covers the online version of the course, starting this September.

Businesses can sign up at: https://solvingconstruction.com/